Seth ely



(No Model.)

"3. ELY.

BILL FILE.

Patented Jan. 10, 1888.

l v I n PETERS, PlmlwLithugv-lpher, Washington. D. c

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SETH ELY, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY.

BILL- FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,185, dated January 10, 1888.

I Application filed January 10, 1887. Serial No. 223,050. (No model.)

in the State of New Jersey, have invented a -at each end of the file.

holes area a in them corresponding to those in new and usefulImprovement in Files, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates more especially to files for filing checks and notes in banks, but is also adapted to filing other documents and papers.

The file is so constructed thatit can be easily adjusted,witho ut extra appliances, to hold securely only a few papers,as well as when filled to its capacity.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1,letter H represents a partition or leaf of the file made of press-board or othersuitable material, and is used for separating the checks, notes, or other papers placed in the file. The round holes a mm are for the rods B to pass through.

Fig. 2, letter I represents a follower, made of wood or other materiahone of each working The followers have the partition.

The box or drawer ofthe file is represented by letter F, Fig. 3, in which are placed the partitions H H and the followers I l,with the rods B B passing through them. The rods B B serve as a guide for the partitions and followers, and are so arranged that the partitions and followers pass freely from end to end of the file.

Fig. 3 also represents the file partly filled with papers, with the strap 0 drawn over the tops of the partitions and followers and fastened by the button D passing through a hole in the strap. The handle G is used for carrying the file or placing it in a cabinet or wherever it may be kept.

Fig. 4 represents the mannerof placing and fastening the rods. Letter B is a rod passing into the blocks E E, the blocks E E being fastened with screws JJ to the inside of the box F 'F of the file at each end.

allow the followers to rest at about an angle of u forty degrees, the partition-leaves working independently and separately from each other on the rods. They accommodate themselves to any distance apart that may be required.

The papers are secured in the file by passing the strap 0 over the top, drawing the upper edges of the followers toward each other and fastened, as represented in Fig. 3.

In using the file, if it is not filled so the lower edges of the followers are out on the rods near the blocks E E, press the follower from the handle end of the file until the partitions are loosely closed together. Then let the top of the follower fall over toward the handle, when the file opens and is kept in that position by the followers, so as to be easily filled or papers removed.

I am aware that prior to my invention files have been made with index-leaves working on rods fastened at one end of an open tray,which I do not claim, broadly; but

What I claim as my. invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a bill-file, the combination of the following elements: the tray F, having both ends closed and provided with the beveled blocks E E, the rods B, held longitudinally therein and fastened by screws J J, the followers I I, and partitions HH, perforated at their lower edges and adapted to be strung upon the rods B, and the strap C, whereby the followers may be drawn together and fastened, sulr stantially as shown and described in the above specification and drawings.

SETH ELY, Witnesses:

J os. G. BREARLEY, M. B. KIRKBRIDE. 

